memories

I don't normally share memories as personal as this, but have decided to do so because I bet there are others like me that grew up in rural Missouri. For me, much of my childhood was spent on my grandma's farm and today was one of those days when memories come rushing back of what life was like then in West Ely, Missouri.

Davis Park in Rockford is getting a major facelift, so here are some of my favorite memories.

If, like my wife Amy, you've got fond memories of attending the recently-demolished Walker Elementary School, you're invited to grab a souvenir.

A couple of weeks back, Joe Dredge and I were discussing businesses and restaurants in and around Rockford that while no longer here, still hold a fond place in our memories. A bunch of callers weighed in on some of their "gone but not forgotten" favorites, too.

Having lived in Rockford and the Rockford area for my entire life, I couldn't pry my eyes off the link that alert WROK Morning Show Listener Mike sent me earlier this morning. The link took me to a video, and the video, featuring Rockford TV commercials from around 1980, threw me into a time warp.

If only I had known that awkward family photos would be combined into a much-viewed internet video. I certainly would have kept better track of our family's holiday photo collection. We've had some gems over the years. My mom crying over a fully cooked turkey that she just dropped onto the floor (made even worse, or funnier, depending on your perspective, when she angrily tried to kick the ruined

I'm happy to confess to being a lucky man. I'm lucky enough to be ridiculously happily married to Amy for almost 23 years. I come from a long line of lucky men. My grandfather, Bant, was married to my grandmother, Jenny, for almost 61 years...